Trace-holder.



No. 864,302. PATENTED AUG. 27,1907.

s. E. HARSH.

TRACE HOLDER. Arrmonmn mam JULY 12. mos.

WITNESSES." 71 7 A/lorneys SAMUEL E. HARSH, OF WABASH, INDIANA.

TRACE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application filed July 12,1906. Serial No. 325.879.

I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to safety trace holders, and has for its object to provide a device of this class which effectually holds the trace in position and prevents the accidental disengagement of' the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety trace holder which is constructed of but two pieces, thereby simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of manufacture to a minimum.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction of the base, and my invention also consists in the novel construction of the spring or trigger.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the trace holder in operative position. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the swingletree and along line 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the swingletree showing the base swung at right angles to the swingletree ahd showing the spring or trigger in the act of being removed or attached to the base.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in which:

1 indicates the swingletree and 2 is a trace.

3 indicates my trace holder which comprises two parts, namely the base 4 and the spring or trigger 5. The said spring or trigger 5 is constructed preferably of spring metal, and as shown in Fig. 1 the upper free end 6 engages the portion 7 of the base and holds said trigger in operative position as shown in Fig. 1. Referring, however, to Fig. 2 it will be seen that, in raising the spring or trigger in order to attach or detach the trace from the swingletree, the free end 6 is forced down in rear of the portion 7 of the base which spreads said free end and holds said spring or trigger in its upright position.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the horizontal bar or bearing 8 of thebase 4 is formed integral with the base thereby doing away with a separate pin or rivet;

and in this connection also referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the lower end of the spring or trigger 5 is curved to form a loop 9, which as shown in Fig. 2 engages the bar or bearing 8 and is held in engagement therewith by the action of the free end 6 on the portion 7 of the base. The said loop portion 9 of the spring or trigger is also absolutely held against disengagement from the bar or bearing 8 by the surface of the swingletree, as shown in Fig. 2. The forwardportion of the spring or trigger 5 is bent to form 21. depending portion 1.0, which engages the surface of the swingletree as shown in Fig. 1, thereby holding the trace from passing off the swingletree.

Having thus fully described the several parts of my invention its operation is as follows: In order to attach the spring or trigger portion of the base the trigger por tion is simply slipped on the bar or bearing 8, as shown in Fig. 4, and the base is then placed upon the swingletree and swung around into position from Fig. 4 and secured by means of screws 11 or other suitable securing means. In order to secure a trace to the swingletree the spring or trigger is raised into position shown in Fig. 2, the trace is passed over the end of the swingletree and the spring or trigger is then placed in position shown in Fig. 1, the action of the free end 6 of the spring or trigger portion on the portion 7 of the base normally holding the said spring or trigger in its operative position as shown in Fig.1.

Should at any time it be desired to remove the spring or trigger portion for the purpose of substituting a new spring or trigger the base is simply swung out into position as shown in Fig. 4 and a new spring or trigger portion substituted by passing the spring or trigger into position shown in Fig. 4. The base is then swung into position. on the swingletree and secured.

In a trace holder the combination of a base having a horizontal transverse bar or bearing on said base and a spring or trigger having one end thereof bent to form a loop and arranged to engage the said horizontal bar or bearing, the other free end of the spring or trigger being constructed to engage a portion of the base to hold said loop portion in engagement with the said horizontal bar or bearing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL E. HARSH.

Witnesses:

Loy I WILSON, MARY E. I-IAUsING. 

